Make the Trip! - Case for Traveling to Wake Forest

This past weekend saw Virginia Tech close out the first half of the season in spectacular fashion. I was at the Miami game sitting in the North End Zone and have to say it was the loudest Lane stadium has ever been. I've watched the YouTube of the final minutes and can't stop smiling especially when the announcer says, "these people are losing their minds", when Enter Sandman comes on again.

It's now time to carry that enthusiasm on the road against Wake Forest. I've personally made the trip twice when I was a student. Both times (2004 and 2006) I had a great trip supporting the Hokies in a friendly away atmosphere. There's even a bit of a Lane experience with Enter Sandman starting the game, albeit their's is highlighted by an evil church official driving a motorcycle on the field, and the decibel level doesn't come close to matching Blacksburg's.

Utilizing the finest video editing technology from the early 90s inspired by the Power Rangers

Perfect Reasons for the Road Trip

This weekend the stars are aligned for Virginia Tech students to venture off campus and support the team on their first conference road game of the season. Grove Stadium is located only 2 hours and 16 minutes from Blacksburg according to Google Maps. There are over 300 tickets available for as low as $40 according to StubHub, also there are tickets available through the Wake Forest ticket office. Kickoff is at 6:30. Plenty of time for your walk of shame, hangover to dissipate, breakfast and two hour drive while reminiscing about how amazing last Saturday was.

Wake Forest plays host to one of the friendliest environments in the ACC. The fans at Wake Forest are for the most part a preppy bunch dressed in black and yellow tie-dye shirts. They just aren't that much into football as much as wanting to see the Demon Deacon ride in on a chopper. The stadium is off campus, which from my experience equates to less enforcement, and a more relaxed attitude with regards to tailgating. This game would be perfect for a "HokieBird's first away game" children's book if Winston-Salem wasn't filled with so many strip clubs (for student budgets there are BYOB places).

VT has enjoyed a lot of success at Wake. Frank Beamer is undefeated in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest, and 3-0 overall against the school. Wake Forest isn't the most talented team, but is a very disciplined and well coached team. It isn't the sexiest team, but the type of team you could bring home to mom. Wake Forest is playing really well this year, and this game carries a lot of importance especially with GT undefeated and VT with an ACC loss already.

Importance of the Game

This is the first conference away game of 2011. If VT is to return to the ACC Championship game, then this is really close to a must win. We have one ACC loss and are looking up to undefeated Georgia Tech. We also have legitimate competition down the road against a UNC squad that looks good too, and only has one ACC loss to GT. This week GT is unlikely to lose at UVA and UNC is the favored host of a deflated Miami squad. VT controls its fate to go to Charlotte, but if we lose another conference game we will need to win out and have someone's help to beat GT a second time. VT is favored to win, but Wake is a team that is starting to make noise. They raised their profile by putting a stake in the heart of FSU fans this past weekend.

Wake's not one of those big name schools like a Miami or Clemson, but as Frank would say they can "get after ya". They had a horrible year last season, but are on the rebound in 2011. They are 4-1, their record highlighted by the win over ACC preseason favorite Florida State. Headlining Wake Forest's roster is sophomore QB Tanner Price. He is playing really well, and is under the radar, even though he is everything preseason media darling Danny O'Brien was supposed to be. If Price doesn't get knocked out of Wake's first game of the season at Syracuse then WF likely doesn't give up a 15 point fourth quarter lead to lose in OT, and thus would be undefeated and ranked. Running back Josh Harris carved up FSU for a Lamar Miller like 136 yards on 13 carries, and last year had 247 rush yards against us. Virginia Tech can not afford to overlook this team, or they might suffer a similar fate as Florida State.

Keep up the Tradition of Great Traveling Fans

Virginia Tech has a great reputation for amazing fans; proven once again last weekend. Now we need to keep up our tradition as traveling fans. Hit the road and support the team that delivered an amazing experience beating a huge rival. Last weekend we saw the ability a crowd has to influence the game, and VT fans have the opportunity to help keep momentum rolling by making LT3 and crew feel at home in Winston-Salem.